Returning MPs set sights on protecting farms from mines, wind farms, transmission lines

Farmers could regain land autonomy from major projects, if a private member’s bill to protect prime agricultural land gets up.

Farmers could soon have their prime land protected from mining, wind farms and transmission lines if two returning parliamentary members have their way.

Calare MP Andrew Gee and Kennedy MP Bob Katter have promised to introduce a bill to protect Australia’s prime agricultural land, after being re-elected to parliament.

The bill would centre around farmers’ autonomy on land use, and rural property buyers with prime agricultural land would be required to use it for agriculture.

Andrew Gee is the Calare federal independent MP.

Mr Gee said his local farming community had pushed to safeguard agricultural industries and farmland.

“It’s a high priority and something this nation should’ve had years ago,” he said.

“It’ll be a tough fight because the government will probably have to be dragged into it, and pushed into it, but I think we have a really strong case for it.”

In Victoria, Dunmunkle Landcare Protection Group’s Andrew Weidemann had called for prime land protection after opposing multiple proposed mineral sands mine in his region.

“It’s what we’re asking for, some common sense around this land acquisition. Farmers have owned this land for generations,” the Rupanyup farmer said.

“We are totally supportive of that approach because it’s what we’re asking of the government.”

Mr Weidemann believed Victorian farming groups were wholly supportive of the move.

“There’s a definite divide between the country and the city, and if the federal government is fair dinkum about treating Australia as one, this is their opportunity to do,” he said.

“We’re going to turn farmers into complete activists here, if that’s what the government wants, that’s what we’ll do.”

Mr Gee said food security would be a global issue with a growing population, and believed there would be future conflicts on food and water supply.

“If we don’t take steps to secure it now, we’ll be letting future generations down, so we’ll force the government to have the conversation with us,” Mr Gee said.

“There’s got to be some work done on what our bill will look like, but we’re up for it.”

Kennedy MP Bob Katter.

Mr Katter said without farmers, the land would turn to “fire starters, feral pig pens and weed nurseries”.

The parliamentary pair also aimed to introduce a Reducing Supermarket Dominance Bill to boost farmgate prices and reduce consumer costs.

At the time of that announcement in mid-April, Mr Katter said they would push for the ACCC chair to be dismissed.

Their bill would cut market power to a maximum of 20 per cent within five years, remove the food and grocery code of conduct, and limit fruit and vegetable mark-ups to 100 per cent.